1 Chicago White Sox - Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
Sleeper: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS (FL), Uncommitted
This appears to be Roch Cholowsky going anyway for whoever picks one. One of the top prep players who made it to campus. He would have been my top player in 2025 if eligible. Lombard has bloodlines and performance to surprise if a team wanted to go prep on a saver.
2 Minnesota Twins - Grady Emerson, SS, Argyle HS (TX), Committed to Texas
Sleeper: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS (FL), Uncommitted
Emerson just fits everything the Twins have targeted under Falvey. Another player who might have been the top prep player in the 25 class. The Twins have gone prep and ceiling with high picks. Most people view Tier One as having two players right now.
3 Pittsburgh Pirates - Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS (FL), Uncommitted
Sleeper: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
I have long had a theory that younger brothers typically outperform older brothers. Lombard has a chance to prove that coming from a very baseball-rich family. If the Pirates’ front office stays, they have gone for prep ceiling, and to me the top one is Lombard.
4 Baltimore Orioles - Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
Sleeper: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
Orioles love college performers, guys who put up big numbers with big power. Burress has excelled at Georgia Tech and put up solid power numbers every year, with his freshman year being particularly outstanding. The Orioles drafted some undersized hitters a year ago, so I don’t think the size would scare them off. Lebron is the other college bat that the majority have in the top 5.
5 Oakland Athletics - Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
Sleeper: AJ Garcia, OF, Virginia
The Athletics tend to go the college route and have gone with a mix of performers and guys who had down junior years. Lebron had a strong sophomore year but faded a bit in the SEC. The mix of power and athleticism at shortstop should see him off the board quickly. On the other hand, if Garcia steps up after following his coach from Duke to Virginia, he will generate a lot of top-five talk.
6 Atlanta Braves - Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky
Sleeper: Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (FL), Committed to Miami
The Braves have been pitcher-heavy, and while they go both prep and college routes, last year some of them went with a hitter early on. In this case, Bell is sitting there, a former high pick who went to college and has performed well. The draft-eligible sophomore is going to go a lot higher than the second round, where the Rays took him out of high school. If the Braves look at arms, Gio Rojas is the high-ceiling lefty that might entice them.
7 Tampa Bay Rays - AJ Garcia, OF, Virginia
Sleeper: Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle HS (CA), Committed to Stanford
The Rays have gone back to a more college-heavy approach in 2025. This might have been due to the depth of the class, but it might also be due to having more success with college than prep players early in recent years. Garcia has top-five potential as a complete player with excellent contact skills and some strong exit velocities in the past. This might actually be a bad mock because with a strong year he goes higher; with regression in contact, if he tries to chase power, he could end up much lower. Spangler stands out among the current prep hitters on the board, so why not?
8 St. Louis Cardinals - Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
Sleeper: Eric Becker, SS, Virginia
The Cardinals went with an arm last year in this same range. The question here is Flukey or Flora, and I lean towards Flora, so I put him here. There is more risk with Flora but also more ceiling, and the Cardinals were not afraid of the risk with Doyle last year. One of the best athletes in the class, Flora is a developmental project, but one who hits 100 and has a plus slider. If they go bat, I went with an up-the-middle player with bloodlines, mostly due to the Guardians front-office addition they made last offseason.
9 Miami Marlins - Ace Reese, OF, Miss State
Sleeper: Gavin Grahovac, 3B, Texas A&M
Miami went college with hitters with power in 2025, so what I have here is a pair of those types of hitters. Grahovac didn’t play much in 25 due to injury, while Reese transferred into Ole Miss and had a huge first year in the SEC. Reese played well in a small sample size at the Cape and has a chance to build off a strong sophomore year. There are questions about his position, though, and if he is first-base-only, that might drop him out of the top-ten discussion.
10 Colorado Rockies - Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU
Sleeper: Kevin Roberts, OF/RHP, Jackson Prep HS (MS), Committed to Florida
This is the hardest pick so far, as we don’t know who is going to run the Rockies. Typically, a new front office means teams go more conservative in the first year, as college players have more data and are easier to scout. The other side is if you are in a long rebuild, which the Rockies are, then you might go for upside all day and worry about it later. So I gave them an upside hitter in the sophomore-eligible Strosnider, who was excellent from the start last year, while also giving them one of the toolsiest players in the draft from the prep ranks with Roberts.
11 Washington Nationals - Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina
Sleeper: Chris Hacopian, 3B, Texas A&M
Paul Toboni comes from Boston, and during his time there were multiple GMs, but the organization tended to stay conservative with the draft and had more success with college players than prep players. This leads me to believe that a college player is most likely for them here. There was one college player who really stood out: Cameron Flukey, who was part of the great Coastal Carolina run a year ago.
12 Los Angeles Angels - Derek Curiel, OF, LSU
Sleeper: Ethan Norby, LHP, ECU
The Angels have gone for polish early with a majority of players. Looking at this college group, the player who stands out for speed to the majors is Curiel. If they wanted to go with an arm, they have had some recent history of going with smaller schools. I am looking for players who I think can move the quickest.
13 Arizona Diamondbacks - Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle HS (CA), Committed to Stanford
Sleeper: Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (FL), Committed to Miami
Arizona has taken a mix of college and prep talent, often scooping up players who slid like Corbin Carroll, Ryan Waldschmidt, Kayson Cunningham, etc. There has been a tendency to take up-the-middle hitters in particular, and Spangler is the last of his tier of prep hitters in my early view. Rojas could go much higher, so the value for a sliding talent is there, but we do often see prep arms slide a bit more of late.
14 Texas Rangers - Kevin Roberts, OF/RHP, Jackson Prep HS (MS), Committed to Florida
Sleeper: Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (FL), Committed to Miami
When the Rangers picked around this range last year, they took a bit of a gamble on Gavin Fien — a player who has a ton of ceiling but had slipped on boards during his draft year. If they want to gamble on ceiling, then Roberts is their guy in terms of hitters. In terms of overall ceiling, it would be Rojas who stands out the most.
15 San Francisco Giants - Chris Hacopian, 3B, Texas A&M
Sleeper: Eric Becker, SS, Virginia
Last year was the first with the new management structure in place, and they didn’t sign a single high school player. Now, this is not uncommon for new front offices, and they could do a complete about-face, but for now, this is the data we have. Hacopian could be in line for a breakout, leaving Maryland for Texas A&M. He underwhelmed a little in the Cape, but the big production at Maryland, a program that has put a lot of players into the pros, makes him stand out as a college hitter at this point in the draft. Becker is an athletic player who has produced in his first two years of college and whose brother got 2.75 million from the Mariners in the second round last year.
16 Kansas City Royals - Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (FL), Committed to Miami
Sleeper: Brady Harris, OF, Trinity Christian Academy (FL), Committed to Florida
The Royals just jump on the guy who would be the highest on most boards. They have not been afraid to gamble on ceiling the last few years, and Rojas could easily go a lot higher if not for the large amount of conservative teams picking higher as well as the concerns with drafting a prep pitcher. Harris is the top of my next grouping of prep hitters if they wanted to go that route, which they have done with two of their last three first-rounders, and also something they doubled down on early last year.
17 Houston Astros - Beau Peterson, 3B, Mill Valley HS (KS), Committed to Texas
Sleeper: Logan Schmidt, LHP, Ganesha HS (CA), Committed to LSU
Last year, the Astros changed their conservative approach to land Xavier Neyens, who was once viewed as a potential top-five pick in last year's class. They went for power and have had a tendency to look for power first with early picks. When I look at the talent on the board, Beau Peterson is the player who stands out in terms of power potential. If they wanted to go for just ceiling, then Logan Schmidt would make sense, as the reclassifier has been a hot name.
18 Cincinnati Reds - Carson Bolemon, LHP, Southside Christian Schools (SC), Committed to Wake Forest
Sleeper: James Clark, SS, St. John Bosco HS (CA), Committed to Princeton
The Reds have taken a lot of pitching the last two years and went with prep players with their top two selections. At this point in the mock, the depth is in prep arms, and that is consistent with the last few years that have seen prep talent slide. If they look for a hitter, Clark does a bit of everything and should appeal as a likely shortstop.
19 Cleveland Guardians - Logan Schmidt, LHP, Ganesha HS (CA), Committed to LSU
Sleeper: Carson Tinney, C, Texas
I was all set to put Tinney here after the Guardians' approach last year seemed to be aggressive hitters who don’t chase but can miss in the zone with big power. They were willing to gamble on athletes with power. The issue is that traditionally they have put a lot of value on the Cape, and Tinney struggled there. While they have not taken a prep arm with their top pick since Daniel Espino in 2019 — and before that, one has to go all the way back to Dan Denham in 2001 — Cleveland has been identifying and drafting prep arms early in the last few years.
20 Boston Red Sox - Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech
Sleeper: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida
The current front office under Breslow looks to be more conservative. While one does not draft for need, having more catchers in your system can only be helpful. Lackey is yet another Georgia Tech catcher who looks like a potential first-rounder. If the Red Sox decide to look at arms, Liam Peterson started out hot a year ago. He has the mix and velocity to battle to be one of the first college pitchers off the board.
21 San Diego Padres - Jensen Hirschkorn, RHP, Kingsburg HS (CA), Committed to ???
Sleeper: Blake Bowen, OF, JSerra Catholic HS (CA), Committed to Oregon State
One thing we know is that the Padres will go with ceiling and likely from the prep ranks. Jensen Hirschkorn is a huge right-handed pitcher. The Padres have also been all about big arms, taking some of the biggest prep arms in the last few drafts. When they go for hitters, it has often been prep players with plus athletic traits, and that fits Bowen.
22 Detroit Tigers - James Clark, SS, St. John Bosco HS (CA), Committed to Princeton
Sleeper: Aiden Ruiz, SS, The Stony Brook School (NY), Committed to Vanderbilt
The Tigers have been very focused on up-the-middle prep players early and often in the draft. They have had a big focus on left-handed hitters with the ability to put the ball in play. They seem to be focused on adding power later, more than present power. Clark stands out as their type of hitter, both in terms of athleticism and position, in addition to being left-handed. If they want a player who might run a little under the radar but can definitely handle shortstop with strong contact rates, it would be Ruiz.
23 Chicago Cubs - Logan Hughes, OF, Texas Tech
Sleeper: Eric Becker, SS, Virginia
The Cubs have been one of the more college-heavy teams, with early picks only selecting college players since Ed Howard in 2020. They have gone with three straight high-performing Cape hitters the last three years, and the results have been mostly positive, with two players already major-league hitters, so why would they change? Hughes wasn’t as dominant in the Cape as Smith, Conrad, or Shaw, but he was still a Cape Cod All-Star who broke out after transferring into Texas Tech last year. If they just went with the consensus top college hitter, that would be Becker.
24 Milwaukee Brewers - Caden Sorrell, OF, Texas A&M
Sleeper: Henry Ford, 1B, Tennessee
The Brewers have been a fascinating team that has focused on big tools early: Braylon Payne and his speed, Andrew Fischer and his power the last two years. They have also taken players where they can see significant savings with the top pick to spread around on later selections, and those selections have been solid for the Brewers. Sorrell has bloodlines, and if he had been healthy, he would have been higher on this list. His power is something the Brewers have targeted not just with Fischer but also with Blake Burke the year before. If Henry Ford has a breakout year, then all bets are off with this pick.
25 Seattle Mariners - Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida
Sleeper: Brady Harris, OF, Trinity Christian Academy (FL), Committed to Florida
The Mariners' primary focus has been on college pitchers and prep hitters. In this mock, they have an interesting player from both of those groups. I leaned towards Peterson here, as the Mariners have leaned towards arms in general, and I also think Peterson has a chance to be the first pitcher off the board this year with a strong junior year. He has the traits to go a lot higher than this on draft day. Harris feels like he should be gone at this point as a no-doubt centerfielder with some pop.
26 Toronto Blue Jays - Eric Becker, SS, Virginia
Sleeper: Brady Harris, OF, Trinity Christian Academy (FL), Committed to Florida
The Blue Jays have gone with a lot of shortstops, specifically more of the hit-first variety. They have also been a team that has been more focused on baseball bloodlines during the Shapiro era. In this case, they get both. Becker’s younger brother Nick was taken by the Mariners in the second round a year ago. With a big year at Virginia, Eric could see his name steadily climbing the boards. Harris represents a sliding talent, which is what the Blue Jays have pounced on when picking in the 20s before with Nimmala and Yesavage.
27 New York Mets - Lucas Moore, OF, Louisville
Sleeper: Jarren Advincula, 2B, Georgia Tech
David Stearns' teams have had a type over the years: polished college hitters. Lucas Moore is a future centerfielder with great speed, defense, and contact rates. There is not much power present, but the speed and defensive profile are what caused Stearns to be able to grab a sliding Sal Frelick a few years ago, so why not get a similar type? Advincula has a chance to rise up boards, transferring into Georgia Tech after putting up big numbers in the Cape in 24 and dominating at Cal the last two years.
35 New York Yankees - Aiden Ruiz, SS, The Stony Brook School (NY), Committed to Vanderbilt
Sleeper: Chris Rembert, 2B, Auburn
The Yankees drafted the same hitter last year with Dax Kilby and Kaeden Kent, a pair of second basemen who did a bit of everything but stood out for their hit tool first. The Yankees have started to open up a bit with their strategy, having more prep players go with their first selection, but they still tend to lean very heavily into the college side of things. They have taken local kids before, and getting a slick-fielding shortstop with good contact rates would make sense at this point in the draft. The Yankees have placed a lot of value on defensive shortstops through the years. If they want another second baseman with good tools and strong production, then Rembert would make sense.
36 Philadelphia Phillies - Cole Koeninger, SS/RHP, Keller HS (TX), Committed to Tennessee
Sleeper: Kaden Waechter, RHP, Tampa Jesuit HS (FL), Committed to Florida State
Dave Dombrowski loves big pitchers and athletic prep hitters. There are plenty of them at this point in my mock. The pitchers, though, stand out above the hitters in terms of ceiling. I also think a player like Koeninger would stand out as a large two-way player with big velocity. Waechter would be another arm with the size and velocity they like, along with the bonus of being the son of a big-league pitcher as well.
40 Los Angeles Dodgers - Joey Volchko, RHP, Georgia
Sleeper: Matt Ponatoski, SS, Archbishop Moeller HS (OH), Committed to Kentucky
The Dodgers look for an elite tool or someone who is easy to project as a major-league talent. They also love a good reclamation project. Volchko had a rough year at Stanford and at the Cape. In general, 2025 was a rough year for Stanford starters, and that saw more than a few transfers. Volchko has the stuff to be a starter or an elite reliever; he just has no command right now. He throws everything harder than pretty much every arm in college baseball. His changeup has a higher velocity than likely 90% or 95% of college pitchers' fastballs. He needs work, but the Dodgers excel at turning traits into success. If they want another elite athlete up the middle, Ponatoski is a three-star recruit as a quarterback set to play both sports in college.
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